The Walking Dead creator teases the comic’s future: “It’s possible we just keep going”

The Walking Dead creator teases the comic's future: "It's possible we just keep going"

As a devoted fan of Robert Kirkman’s work since his early days at Image Comics, I must say that the sudden conclusion of “The Walking Dead” comics left me feeling like a survivor who had just lost their safe haven to a horde of walkers – stunned, bewildered, yet somehow still hopeful. Kirkman’s mastery of creating suspense and maintaining an air of unpredictability is unparalleled in the world of comic books.

Robert Kirkman unexpectedly wrapped up “The Walking Dead” comics in 2019 after issuing 193 episodes. This abrupt ending was quite a jolt; Kirkman even went to great lengths to conceal the fact that he was bringing the series to a close by distributing fake cover art for future issues. Since the comic’s conclusion, “The Walking Dead” TV show has also drawn its curtain, but it lives on through various spin-off productions.

Regarding the future of “The Walking Dead” comics, things are somewhat up in the air. What doesn’t help is that Robert Kirkman enjoys playing coy with his fans, as if it’s a pastime. Since the conclusion of the main series, there have been two volumes of Tillie Walden’s “Clementine” graphic novel, a sequel to Telltale’s “The Walking Dead” video game, which aligns with the comics. However, aside from these, Kirkman hasn’t revisited his zombie-filled universe yet.

On the fan correspondence section of the ‘The Walking Dead: Deluxe’ (a reprint of the original series in full color), Kirkman addressed fan queries. One fan enquired if the comic book universe of ‘The Walking Dead’ would persist. Kirkman replied, as reported by ScreenRant, “I can’t rule anything out completely,” but he added that following the release of ‘Clementine Book 3’, there won’t be any new ‘The Walking Dead’ comic books… ever.

Despite his statement, Kirkman hinted that when “The Walking Dead: Deluxe” reaches its original conclusion, there might be an inclination to carry on. He mused, “Perhaps we could just keep going with ‘Walking Dead Deluxe #194’ and beyond! The future remains uncertain!” If the narrative persists, it would likely delve into the tale of ‘Old man Carl’, a storyline that was only briefly suggested in the final issue.

Robert Kirkman reveals one of his biggest Walking Dead regrets

In a recent edition of The Walking Dead: Deluxe, creator Robert Kirkman shared some remorseful feelings about the comic series. One major regret is the untimely demise of beloved character Glenn Rhee, portrayed by Steven Yeun in the AMC television adaptation. Although he doesn’t have second thoughts over the character’s death itself, Kirkman feels that the lead-up to the memorable scene was a bit too noticeable. He commented, “We even had Rick stating he would miss Glenn to no end. Oof! That was heavy-handed, Robert!

In his writing process, Kirkman skillfully crafted a strategy that kept readers on edge, creating an impression that characters might not survive. However, regarding Glenn, there could have been more impact if those crucial scenes were handled with greater finesse.

It appears that at least comic book enthusiasts were utterly deceived by the television portrayal of the incident. Specifically, in the episode titled “The Day Will Come When You Won’t Be,” Negan first murdered Abraham, and then unexpectedly took out Glenn as well.

Each month, the latest installments of “The Walking Dead: Deluxe” continue to be released. Don’t forget to check them out at your local comic shop!

2024-11-20 00:41